Go-ahead for bid to build student flats

A CONTROVERSIAL plan to build 45 student flats in the West End has been approved after an appeal.

Developers, Nursery Rhymes Nurseries, will now create a new six-storey facility on the junction of Sandyford Street and Kelvinhaugh Street in Yorkhill.

The state-of-the-art development will include two, three and five-bedroom flats with cycle parking, a gym, a communal area and an outdoor leisure space.

In May, city bosses rejected the proposals following a string of objections from neighbours who claimed there were too many student accommodations in the area.

But yesterday, the planning local review committee overturned that decision despite it being revealed that there are 6146 student homes within 1km which are either ‘completed’, ‘under construction’ or ‘pending construction’.

Committee chairman Glenn Elder said: “I think it’s a reasonable development and with the plans to improve the open space, I think it’s worthy of being passed.”

Mr Elder had earlier stated that there was “always going to be dissatisfaction somewhere” regardless of whether the proposal was approved or not.

He said it was the “most difficult” planning decision he had made.

That was after seven objections were lodged by residents, including one from the Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Community Council.

Most of those pointed to a “saturation” of student accommodations in the area.

But Cecilia O’Lone rubbished those claims and said: “Glasgow is an education destination and we need to provide good quality accommodation for them.

“Yorkhill is an area that has always been heavily populated by students. I’m not convinced that this area is over saturated.”

The latest decision comes just two years after proposals for 78 homes on the site were rejected by the planning committee and then refused again on appeal.

As part of the latest plans, new plants, benches, fountains and other landscaping features will be included in a revamp of a derelict public greenspace on the site.

In May’s decision to refuse, the planning applications committee had said that the flats would be overlooking other properties and neighbours would suffer a loss of privacy.

It is expected that work will begin on site next year. PIXAR fans raced to Glasgow’s Riverside Museum as one of the company’s favourite characters came to the city.

Harry Butler, 6, got up close to Lightning McQueen, star of animated movie Cars. The movie favourite will remain at the museum until November 29 before returning to Radiator Springs.